USGIF GotGeoint BlogUSGIF promotes geospatial intelligence tradecraft and a stronger community of interest between government, industry, academia, professional organizations and individuals focused on the development and application of geospatial intelligence to address national security objectives.

July 25, 2011

Massive shale gas basins in Europe: France and Poland

Shale gas has dramatically impacted the US natural gas market and US energy prices in general. A recent US Energy Informattion Administration (EIA) report has estimated world reserves of technically recoverable shale gas, meaning gas that can be recovered using recently developed technologies including horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking). Shale gas has major implications for Europe because of major shale basins in Poland and France.

In 2009, France consumed 1.73 billion cubic feet of natural gas, 98% of which is imported because France produces very little natural gas. The huge shale gas basin in France estimated at 180 trillion cubic feet has the potential to dramatically increase French natural gas production. The situation is similar in Poland which has Europe's largest shale gas reserves.